Essays, Art and Plays by Dan

Jim Kacian’s Where I Leave Off, presented in both English and Dutch, is an exploration of the monoku format—a single-line style of haiku that challenges Western conventions while staying true to its Japanese roots. In this collection, Kacian stretches the boundaries of traditional haiku by inventing the “one bun”  and  using techniques like “one-line one-thought,” “speedrush,” and “multi-stops” to create poems that feel immediate and fluid. Unlike the familiar three-line haiku, which naturally builds in pauses, the monoku’s continuous flow invites the reader to consider multiple meanings.

Commentary on Selected Poems

flurries after our argument the need to tell you

The word “flurries” does a lot of heavy lifting—it brings to mind not just the image of snow drifting through the air, but also the emotional chaos that can linger after a fight. And then there’s that last phrase, “the need to tell you.” It leaves things hanging, filled with urgency and uncertainty. What still needs to be said?

the war has a new name today jim

This monoku is an example of the “speedrush” technique, in which the lack of punctuation propels the reader forward. The phrase “the war has a new name today” highlights the way war propaganda is continually rebranded, while the direct address, “jim,” adds an unexpected personal touch. This intimate framing draws the reader in, making the commentary on war’s relentless cycle feel overwhelming.

persimmon still hanging the extra day of the year

Here, Kacian uses the “one-line one-thought” approach, turning the monoku into a quiet, self-contained reflection. The image of a persimmon still holding on to its branch becomes a gentle symbol of persistence—echoing the rare appearance of an extra day in a leap year. It’s a simple image, but it opens up space to think about time, patience, and the fleeting nature of things.

the place i can’t reach itches your absence

This poem turns longing into something you can almost feel in your body. “The place I can’t reach” works on two levels—it could be a literal spot you just can’t scratch, but it also points to emotional distance or a sense of loss. The word “itches” carries that feeling of something unresolved, something that’s still there even if the person isn’t.

Conclusion

Where I Leave Off marked an innovation in contemporary haiku, showing how the monoku form can break away from tradition and offer something fresh. Kacian plays with ambiguity, speed, and flow, inviting readers into a space where meaning isn’t pinned down—it moves and evolves. He pushed back against the usual expectations of how haiku should work in English, proving that being brief doesn’t mean being shallow. If anything, it makes each word carry more weight.

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You can read the entire book in the THF Digital Library. Please share your favorite poem from the book with us

https://thehaikufoundation.org/book-of-the-week-between-two-dates-by-kwaku-feni-ado-2/